GTA & TAT to Promote Thailand to Luxury Travellers

Global travel company GTA and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are collaborating on a plan to increase the number of high-spending tourists coming to the Kingdom.

Ivan Walter, chief executive officer of GTA, said it would join forces with TAT to promote Thailand as a luxury leisure destination.

“Thailand is one of the world’s most desired and dynamic tourism destinations. The country is surrounded by many of the influential travel suppliers, travel agents, technology partners and hotels.”

He said Asia-Pacific and Middle East travel communities were strongly committed to promote the country to upscale tourists and focus more on luxury markets.

Speaking at GTA’s 2016 summit on “Future Outlook of Travel and Future of Travel Intermediaries” in Bangkok yesterday, Walter told travel executives from China, Australia, India, Singapore and Hong Kong that Thailand’s tourism had risen dramatically in recent years. The country drew 29.9 million international visitors in 2015, an increase of more than 20 per cent compared with 2014.

However, the country can still increase yields and the average length of stay, as industry data showed that the average daily|rate of spending by upscale travellers grew by 17 per cent in the luxury accommodation segment last year.

TAT deputy governor Juthaporn Rerngronasa said the country had been working on niche markets and luxury tourism for years and GTA would be a new player to help draw in more of the upscale market.

GTA is part of Switzerland-based Kuoni Group. GTA attributes its success as a leading travel company for independent travellers to longevity in the industry, good financial stability, a global presence, and the expertise of its people.

The company says it has long connected travel agents to hotel partners to offer content at the best possible prices through technology. Nearly 14 million room-nights a year have been booked through GTA.

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